Henderson named MVP, Davis named Coach of the Year

Springville’s Hayden Henderson, left, was named Most Valuable Player while Moody’s Rebecca Davis was named Coach of the Year.

The 2014 St. Clair All-County Softball Team has been named and leading the way is Most Valuable Player Hayden Henderson from Springville.

When the season started, Henderson didn’t even know if she would be able to play or not because of her left elbow.

“My trainer Alex Wolf said I could play,” Henderson said. “My elbow hurt the entire year, but I was determined to go out on top.”

Henderson was Springville’s leadoff hitter, and she batted .528 and scored 71 runs.

She had 108 hits on the season, second best in the history of the state. A Sumiton Christian player had 122 hits in one season back in 2012.

“This is such an honor,” Henderson said. “I believed in our team although we were young. Coach (Chris) Williams and my teammates helped me so I want to thank them. Coach Williams has coached me the past six years. No one expected us to do this well this season, and we won the county championship.”

Last week, Henderson had Tommy John surgery on her left arm. A couple of months ago, Henderson signed a softball scholarship to Auburn University Montgomery.

“My doctor said I should be back by the spring,” Henderson said. “My coach at AUM said if I was not ready, they would red-shirt me.

Coach of the Year honors went to Moody’s Rebecca Davis. She led the Lady Blue Devils to the Class 5A state championship game, and was one out away from winning Moody’s first state championship in any sport. They finished the season with an overall record of 32-15.

“For me, this season started with me with my administrators,” Davis said. “My principal, Cheryl Kuyk, is my mentor in every sense of the word. She was there to support me every day. Mr. (Tommy) Smitherman made sure he was at as many games as he could. For me to be able to do my job well, it starts with them.”

Davis said Moody is blessed to have such great parents in the softball program.

“They wanted to give me everything they possible could to make sure I could possibly succeed,” Davis said. “And for some reason, the girls wanted to work hard for me. In the end, it has very little to do with me, but has everything to do with everybody else.”

Other members of the All-County Team include Kolyn Kyser, Abbey Swaney, Rian Brown and Kaylee Chapman from Springville; Kayla Stephenson, Vistoria Lewis, Haley Grace Fulmer and Alexis Moore from Moody; Kailey Echols, Callie Kay and Makenley Oliver from Ragland; Caley Whitehead, Ashley Johnson and Kori Koratich from St. Clair Coiunty High School and Kelsey Martin and Erieanna Gilbert from Ashville.